VOLCANIC ERUPTION - MONSERRAT

Montserrat is a small island in the Caribbean = 12 miles long and 7 miles wide.

• It is known as the “Emerald Island” and attracts the rich and famous (e.g. Sir Paul McCartney and Sting

• However, most of the population are poor and rely on subsistence farming.

• Before the eruption 12000 people lived on the island, 50% of which lived in the capital, Plymouth.

The cause of the eruption

North Atlantic Plate (oceanic) Caribbean Plate

Montserrat is situated on a plate boundary between the Caribbean Plate and the North Atlantic Plate. These are DESTRUCTIVE plate boundaries

BACKGROUND TO THE 1997 ERUPTION

July 1995 - the volcano erupted for the 1st time in over 350 years

50% of the population were evacuated to the north of the island.

By April 1996 – Plymouth was like a ghost town as more people were evacuated due to the eruptions which became more explosive

The eruptions became more and more explosive with lava and ash being ejected from the volcano

WATCH THE VIDEO CLIP ON THE FROG WEBSITE